STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3504

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 41

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Government Operations and Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 41 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING CERTAIN STATE AND COUNTY AGENCIES, IN COORDINATION WITH COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE STATEWIDE FOOD SECURITY STRATEGY,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request certain state and county agencies, in coordination with community-based organizations, to develop a comprehensive statewide food security strategy.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Hawaiʻi Foodbank, Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice, Hawaii Food Industry Association, Agriculture Stewardship Hawaiʻi, and two individuals.

Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

Your Committees find that food insecurity remains a significant challenge in the State, especially among historically marginalized communities, young adults, and households relying on federal nutrition assistance. Your Committees further find that these populations also experience compounded challenges from geographic isolation, intergenerational inequities, processed foods, climate change, and economic disruptions, exacerbating the already detrimental consequences arising from limited access to nutritious food. By combining the efforts of government and community leaders and experts to develop a comprehensive statewide food security strategy, this measure promotes public welfare and makes food security more equitable throughout the State.

Your Committees acknowledge the recommendation provided in testimony by the State Council on Developmental Disabilities that the comprehensive statewide food security strategy developed pursuant to this measure include consideration of the needs of individuals with disabilities and access and functional needs, as these populations experience unique and often overlooked barriers to food access. Therefore, amendments to this measure are necessary to incorporate this recommendation.

Accordingly, your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting a finding that individuals with disabilities and access and functional needs experience unique and often overlooked barriers to food access, and therefore, it is essential that any plan to address food security in the State consider the needs of these populations;

(2) Adding organizations representing individuals with disabilities and access and functional needs to the list of entities with which appropriate state and county agencies are requested to coordinate in developing the comprehensive statewide food security strategy;

(3) Specifying that the comprehensive statewide food security strategy is requested to:

(A) Consider the needs of individuals with disabilities and access and functional needs;

(B) Ensure alignment with existing programs that serve these populations, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Medicaid home and community-based services, and aging network supports, to reduce fragmentation and improve access;

(C) Incorporate emergency preparedness and disaster response considerations, recognizing that individuals with disabilities are disproportionately impacted by disruptions in food access during emergencies; and

(D) Support community-driven solutions that promote independence, dignity, and long-term stability for individuals and families; and

(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Government Operations and Agriculture and Environment that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 41, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 41, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Government Operations and Agriculture and Environment,

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair

________________________________ ANGUS L.K. MCKELVEY, Chair